Offa's Dyke is a superb National Trail that threads it's way along the English / Welsh border from Chepstow in the south to Prestatyn in the north. It is rarely flat and is a strenuous walk, but one that gives great highs and lows as it frequently crosses the border between the two countries.
The trail is named after the Saxon King Offa, who ruled the Kingdom of Mercia from 757 to 796. The exact purpose of the dyke is unknown, but it is believed to possibly be a defensive barrier to protect Mercia's western reaches from the Welsh tribes. The exact extant of the dyke is also unknown, and although the trail follows it for long distances there are other areas, particularly in the north and south of Kington, where it will not be seen.
Although it is a fairly strenuous walk it is rarely remote, and there are few if any technical sections when compared to, for instance, the Pennine Way. The scenery is nearly always good, and accommodation is available over almost all of the route.
P20074020021 Heading north past Hatterrall Hill.
P20074050381 The steep climb up north from Churchtown.
The walk is covered in detail in the Offa's Dyke National Trail Guide South (Chepstow to Knighton), by Ernie and Kathy Kay, and Mark Richards, ISBN 1-84513-274-2 published by Aurum Press Ltd. Click on the image to the right to go to the Amazon page for the book.
The walk is covered in detail in the Offa's Dyke National Trail Guide North (Knighton to Prestatyn), by Ernie and Kathy Kay, and Mark Richards, ISBN 1-84510-976-6 published by Aurum Press Ltd. Click on the image to the right to go to the Amazon page for the book.
More Offa's Dyke photos
P20073310002 The stone marking the start of Offa's Dyke path on Sedbury Cliffs.
P20073310009 Tutshill Tower.
P20073310015 A bend in the River Wye from Wintour's Leap.
P20073310024 Looking down over Tintern Abbey.
P20073310032 The River Wye at Brockweir.
P20073310048 The descent down into Redbrook.
P20073310058 The Round House on the Kymin.
P20073310071 The bridge over the River Wye in Monmouth.
P20073310081 The Monmow Bridge in Monmouth.
P20073310084 My tent in the campsite in Monmouth.
P20074010088 The Monmow Bridge in Monmouth.
P20074010091 Heading west towards Whitehill Wood.
P20074010094 A clearing in Whitehill Wood.
P20074010099 St Michael's of the Fiery Meteor church.
P20074010106 Fields to the west of Llantilio Crossenny.
P20074010115 White Castle.
P20074010131 A chapel at Caggle Street.
P20074010146 My tent at the campsite in Pandy.
P20074020001 My tent at the campsite in Pandy.
P20074020002 The River Honddu in Pandy.
P20074020033 Heading north along the Black Mountain.
P20074020046 The 610-metre trig pillar.
P20074020061 The path across the summit of Black Mountain.
P20074020078 The descent down from Hay Bluff.
P20074020102 Hay-on-Wye.
P20074030114 The River Wye in Hay-on-Wye.
P20074030136 The descent down towards Newchurch.
P20074030137 The church at Newchurch.
P20074030156 Gladestry Brook.
P20074030167 A pond on the Hergest Ridge.
P20074030176 The descent from the Hergest Ridge.
P20074030184 Kington.
P20074040193 Back Brook in Kington.
P20074040195 Looking back south over Kington.
P20074040206 Offa's Dyke on Rushock Hill.
P20074040213 The descent down towards Herrock Hill.
P20074040219 Ditchyeld Bridge.
P20074040221 The view west over the Radnor Valley.
P20074040227 The view west over the Radnor Valley.
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